Of course the Repubs are going to Koch-block Obama's jobs bill. But Obama's not dumb.

[backscatter712]

Why do you think Obama went to the trouble to call a joint session of Congress to deliver this speech? It would have been less hassle to deliver it from the East Room or the Oval Office, or go on a road trip and deliver it at a town hall. But then the media would have yawned. A town hall would have been ignored entirely. An Oval Office or East Room speech would have been broadcasted, but then a lot of the audience would be lost for the live broadcast, and the bobbleheads would take a few sound bites out of context, the usual FAUX News crew would have picked over it, and the message wouldn't get through.

This is classic earned-media strategy. Obama chose to call a joint session of Congress, which is relatively rare, and even better (though a little embarassing), there was the pissing contest over the date, which in the end drew even more attention to the speech, and now Obama's got all the networks broadcasting the speech, and millions of Americans watching it.

And the message he was delivering, in classic Obama brilliance, is a simple one, that WILL resonate with the public. PASS A JOBS BILL, DAMMIT!

Because Obama knew that any bill he proposed would be DOA in Congress under normal circumstances - the GOP's committed to the strategy of Koch-blocking everything Obama tries, and sabotaging the country to bring him down. The key is to use the bully-pulpit, make a strong appeal to put America first instead of Republicans and corporations first, and make sure both Obama and the Congressional Republicans are on screen, in front of the nation, hearing Obama out.

Yeah, the GOP will still Koch-block, but they'll really hurt themselves in the process, and it very well may force them to agree to at least something of a jobs bill, and to backing off on the obstructionism and sabotage a bit. And Obama innoculated himself and the Democrats at least to some degree from taking the blame for the economy falling apart further - the GOP will more likely get the blame for the bad economy and continued unemployment - Obama made a strong proposal to try to fix things, so the GOP will have to figure out how to spin refusing to go along in the face of millions of constituents demanding action from them.

[glowing]

1. He wanted to show the Republicans not clapping for teachers and fixing the bridges

And roads that Americans want.

[MineralMan]

2. Bingo! You have it! nt

[ClarkUSA]

3. Excellent analysis. You should put this in your journal and a LTTE in your local & state papers.

[drm604]

4. You've hit the nail on the head.

:head:

[liberalla]

5. If/when things stall/stumble, there's only one party to blame.

I also wonder how the GOP will spin refusing to go along with the plan. What kind of gymnastics will they perform this time?

PASS A JOBS BILL, DAMMIT!

[lindysalsagal]

6. Politics for dummies

Pass this jobs bill is so simple, everyone can understand it.

Hate to say it, but, he's right: The teabaggers are morons and he has to reach them.

This was politics for dummies. Its' what we need now. Even if it doesn't pass, it's fodder for the next election.

[texpatriot2004]

14. This is simple math...as the President said -

"...This isn’t political grandstanding. This isn’t class warfare. This is simple math. (Laughter.) This is simple math. These are real choices. These are real choices that we’ve got to make. And I’m pretty sure I know what most Americans would choose. It’s not even close. And it’s time for us to do what’s right for our future." President Obama, Address to a Joint Session of Congress 9/8/11

[Roselma]

7. Exactly! And...when the unemployment numbers are horrible

just before election day in 2012 (they will be), he will say, "I tried. As you can see, the Republicans held the economy back. They put party over country, and they'll do more of that if you vote to reelect them or put a Republican in the White House."

[elleng]

8. and get themselves un-elected!

(at the same time causing extreme grief to millions.)

[BumRushDaShow]

9. "...any bill he proposed would be DOA in Congress.."

A bunch had already come out in advance to pronounce it DOA before he even gave the speech about it.

[texpatriot2004]

10. Joint Session of Congress - very clever! nm

[joshcryer]

11. K&R, nicely stated.

[texpatriot2004]

12. The GOP "Party of No" will be to blame if they don't pass the

Jobs Bill.

[gratuitous]

13. I agree it puts the Republicans on the hot seat

The nagging questions I have are, why didn't he try this little tactic sooner, and will there be that all-important follow-through after another Big Speech?